Question: So what do these texts want us to talk about? How do writers use satire, irony and parody to inform, argue or persuade (and sometimes entertain)?
"People say satire is dead. It's not dead; it's alive and living in the White House." Robin Williams
There are those who fret about whether news humor simply co-opts political life, acting as an escape valve that lets our civic energy dissipate. . . news satire like Saturday Night Live’s can serve as this kind of vent, ameliorating outrage with a laugh. But, Maddow’s wit—and more obviously, Olbermann’s—is too pointed to just act as a kind of political-anger-management regimen. . . . By calling attention to the malevolence and dishonesty around us, Maddow and the new ironic anchors [Stewart, Colbert] have come up with one way to shake us out of our exhausted acceptance of it all[18].”
George Orwell (1943-1945) “Every joke is a tiny revolution [because…] it upsets the established order” and “…to be funny, indeed, you have got to be serious.”
Supplemental:
Capitol Steps Current and former Congressional staffers use songs to provide a humorous look at political events and personalities. Doonesbury Find the daily Doonesbury comic strip online, as well as portraits and biographies of the characters featured in Doonesbury to assist new readers. NOW with Bill Moyers: Who's Laughing Now? American Political Satire
This feature details the history of satire in U.S. politics. Links to satire examples from the 1700's to the present are also provided.
Question: So what do these texts want us to talk about?
How do writers use satire, irony and parody to inform, argue or persuade (and sometimes entertain)?
"People say satire is dead. It's not dead; it's alive and living in the White House." Robin Williams
There are those who fret about whether news humor simply co-opts political life, acting as an escape valve that lets our civic energy dissipate. . . news satire like Saturday Night Live’s can serve as this kind of vent, ameliorating outrage with a laugh. But, Maddow’s wit—and more obviously, Olbermann’s—is too pointed to just act as a kind of political-anger-management regimen. . . . By calling attention to the malevolence and dishonesty around us, Maddow and the new ironic anchors [Stewart, Colbert] have come up with one way to shake us out of our exhausted acceptance of it all[18].”
George Orwell (1943-1945) “Every joke is a tiny revolution [because…] it upsets the established order” and “…to be funny, indeed, you have got to be serious.”
Required Reading:
Supplemental:
Capitol Steps Current and former Congressional staffers use songs to provide a humorous look at political events and personalities.
Doonesbury Find the daily Doonesbury comic strip online, as well as portraits and biographies of the characters featured in Doonesbury to assist new readers.
NOW with Bill Moyers: Who's Laughing Now? American Political Satire
- This feature details the history of satire in U.S. politics. Links to satire examples from the 1700's to the present are also provided.
The Onion- Online newspaper featuring satirical articles related to the current events of the day and people in the news.
Political Cartoons- A Web site containing political cartoons from well-known cartoonists around the world.
Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update"- This "fake news" broadcast segment delivers headlines with a humorous twist. The Web site includes transcripts from 1998 to the present.
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as a PowerPoint PresentationMarx Brothers on YouTube
- famous Mirror scene
- Harpo speaks through his harp
- The Best of Groucho Notice how long the takes are and how much dialogue Groucho is responsible for
Deep Thoughts by Jack HandeyDictionary of Jack Isn't it ironic? Now it is.
NPR Interview and Excerpt from John Hodgman's "More Information Than You Need to Know"
Dave Barry's homepage
Steven Wright
Something funny--a tribute to John Williams movie scores like Indiana Jones, Jaws, and Close Encounters using Star Wars related lyrics.
Notable Examples of Satire
AP Student Attacks Twilight